Foldable display stand



Sept. 2, 1969 J. G. DOWNING FOLDABLE DISPLAY STAND Filed Nov. 20, 1967 5 7 6 M -m/// MW 2, 1 M W 2 z j r C INVENTO ATTY.

United States Patent 3,464,569 FOLDABLE DISPLAY STAND John G. Downing, Downing Displays, 300 Gennessee St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Filed Nov. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 684,167 Int. Cl. A47b /04, 96/02 US. Cl. 211-135 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to improvements in display devices and is particularly directed to a collapsible display blank capable, with only minor adjustments, of erection into any one of a number of desired configurations for use in stores, store windows, convention halls, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive, simplified and versatile blank which may be selectively used as a display device for various items of merchandise and to achieve in each instance an attentionarresting effect.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rectangular blank of stiff, relatively inexpensive board material which is scored to be folded either lengthwise or widthwise and when erected assumes relatively rigid forms in a variety of predetermined, attention-arresting positions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmental plan view of the blank or board of my collapsible display stand.

FIG. 2 is a fragmental perspective view of the board, broken away parts being shown in section.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the display configurations into which the blank shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be folded for erection.

FIG. 4 is a fragmental perspective view of a vertical column into which the blank shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be folded and erected.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a further configuration into which my blank may be erected.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 66 of FIG. 3.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing the numeral 10 generally indicates a rectangularly shaped blank composed of relatively stiff, laminated material having a pair of outer sheets 11 and 12 and an intermediate lamination 13 all pressed and secured together to form a planar board. The blank is selectively foldable on itself in a longitudinal or a lateral direction by providing it with a set of longitudinally spaced apart, laterally extending body weakening hinge lines 14, and as best shown in FIG. 2, these hinge lines 14 are formed by creating aligned and elongated, inwardly extending grooves 15 and 16 in the outer sheets 11 and 12, respectively. These depressed lines in turn restrict the thickness of that portion of the intermediate lamination 13 disposed between the grooves and renders said portion susceptible to a hinging action. Similarly a set of laterally spaced apart, longitudinally extending body weakening hinge lines 17 are formed in the blank, said set of hinge lines 17 intersecting at right angles the laterally extending ice hinge lines 14 at cross over points throughout the blank 10.

The opposite side edge portions 18 and 19 of the blank may be provided with laterally aligned, cooperable fastener elements 20 and 21, respectively, and the end edge portions 22 and 23 of the blank may also be provided with cooperable, longitudinally aligned fasteners 24 and 25, respectively, for the purposes to be more fully described hereinafter.

Now with reference to FIG. 3 of the drawings it will be understood that the blank 10 may be stood on the floor upon one of its side edge portions 19 and the body of the blank folded lengthwise in varying degrees and angular directions around the body weakening hinge lines 14 to create a variety of configurations dependent upon the form that would best appeal to the display of floor supported merchandise, such as refrigerators, stoves and other home appliances. The major faces of the blank so folded and erected will have applied thereto in eyeattractive colors, designs and printed matter relating to the displayed merchandise. In the illustrated position it will be understood that the hinging or folding of the blank on the lateral body weakening lines 14 rigidifies the upstanding planar walls so that they cannot bend or be folded on the longitudinally extending body weakening fold lines 17.

In FIG. 4 of the drawings there is shown a star shaped design into which the blank 10 may be folded lengthwise when stood on a side edge, the opposite end portions 22 and 23 being brought together and secured by the cooperating fastener elements 24 and 25, respectively.

The blank 10 may also be folded widthwise on its longitudinal body weakening lines 17 into a hollow, relatively high vertical column 26 which may rise substantially higher than the surrounding merchandise to provide a means for supporting attention-arresting material applied to the exposed surfaces thereof or which may be clipped or otherwise attached to its upper portion. When it is desired to employ the blank to form a vertical column 26 a series of longitudinal cuts 27 (FIG. 1) are formed in an end portion 23 within the body weakening lines 17 (FIG. 1) to provide floor engaging feet 28 (FIG. 5) projecting at right angles from the base of the column and upon which relatively heavy merchandise may be set to stabilize the column.

Now with reference to FIGS. 3 and 6 there is shown a shelf means 29 adapted to maintain certain folded portions of the blank in floor supported positions and also afford a means of displaying relatively small articles of merchandise upon the upstanding blank form. Opposed upstanding walls 30 and 31 of the blank are each provided with one or more, vertically positioned channel strips 32, each secured as by rivets 33 to the confronting faces of said walls 30 and 31 and each channel strip having a vertical row of holes 34 formed therein. A shelf board 35 having the general marginal configuration of the horizontal space between the opposed walls 30 and 31 of the blank has a number of V-shaped brackets 36 fastened by screws 370 to the margin thereof, each bracket positioned to engage with a channel strip 32. As shown in FIG. 6 the ends of the V-shaped brackets project outwardly to form opposed teeth 37 and 38 which are sprung into the spaced holes 32 in the channel strips to firmly position the shelf in vertically selected places and when so positioned to prevent the walls 30 and 31 of the blank from moving toward or away from each other in blank set-up position.

Manifestly the blank itself may be packaged for storage or transportation by folding it lengthwise on the lateral hinge lines 14 with the planar walls in superimposed relation on each other and the folded blank housed in a relatively flat and readily portable container. It will also be understood that the upper exposed surfaces of my connected series of still walls joined together by fold lines may be decorated and advertising material or other informative material printed or lithographed thereon.

What is claimed is:

1. In a foldable display stand a rectangularly shaped blank comp-osed of relatively still material and having a set of laterally spaced apart, longitudinally extending body weakening hinge lines formed therein and having a longitudinally spaced apart, laterally extending set of body weakening hinge lines formed therein, said sets of lines intersecting at right angles to each other at their respective cross over points throughout the blank, and spaced apart cooperable fastening means located along opposed margins of the blank whereby the blank may be selectively erected in folded, upstanding positions upon one of its marginal edges.

2. A foldable display stand according to claim 1 wherein the blank is laminated and has a pair of outer sheets and an intermediate lamination secured between the outer sheets.

3. A foldable display stand according to claim 2 further characterized by the fact that the body weakening hinge lines are inwardly projecting grooves formed in alignment in the outer sheets and the body of the intermediate lamination is restricted at portions disposed between the aligned grooves in the sheets.

4. A foldable display stand according to claim 1 including shelf means associated with two opposed upstanding walls of the erected stand, said shelf means having supports fastened to the opposed Walls, and cooperable connections on the shelf for engaging the supports.

5. A foldable display stand according to claim 4 wherein the supports are channel strips having a series of holes formed therein and the cooperable connections on the shelf are V-shaped spring brackets having outturned teeth on their end portions for engagement in selected holes in the strip.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,392,337 10/1921 Kay 248-174 X 1,555,554 9/1925 Cohn 248-174 1,852,471 4/1932 Nelson 248-174 X 2,674,377 4/1954 Davidson 248-174 X 3,089,632 5/1963 Bartolucci 248-174 X 3,139,192 6/1964 Maguire 211- 3,420,362 1/1969 Kleingers 248-174 X NILE C. BYERS, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

